|
Post by roseleadesigns on Mar 13, 2018 21:16:03 GMT
Hi all I am new to the site and as the title suggests, I am feeling ready to start exploring the realm of selling my work, so I’m looking for ideas and advice. I suppose it’s personal choice but I would rather not sell online to start with, preferring somebody to see my work “in the flesh” Has anybody approached gallery’s and art/craft shops to sell work and how did you do it, ie via email, phone or just going in with your work? I’m completely new at this and so unsure of myself. Also with the cost of framing, not to mention personal taste, I am looking for ideas on how to present wet felted pictures for sale. One thought was in a plastic sleeve with a cardboard backing with a business sticker on the cardboard backing. Any other thoughts, ideas or comments would be so welcome, I honestly don’t know where to start or who to talk to about this. I have a website ( display only at the moment,not selling)and the only social media I really use is Instagram, purely for felting.
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Mar 13, 2018 22:13:43 GMT
Welcome Eve! We have had several discussions about this in the past. Here's one I found by putting "approaching galleries" in the search function here. feltandfiberstudio.proboards.com/thread/1881/approach-galleriesI'm sure that there are more if you search. In regards to matting or cardboard backing, that would probably work depending on the gallery. I would suggest taking a framed one in to show the gallery once you have set up an appointment with them and ask them which way they would like the pieces. We'd love to see some photos of your work.
|
|
|
Post by lyn on Mar 13, 2018 22:41:22 GMT
Gallery owners are more approachable than you might think and they are helpful with how to present your work for display. You have nothing to lose by showing your work to a few galleries. I would phone first to make an appointment so that your first meeting is at a good time for the gallery owner.
|
|
|
Post by tracey on Mar 14, 2018 6:56:59 GMT
I was in your position last year Eve. I do not have a website at the moment. I started approaching galleries for the first time last year. Totally nerve racking at first but I am confident now. It gets easier. Email or ring them first. I wouldn't suggest just showing up. Explain what your work is and would they be interested in taking a look? Some may request email pictures, others may suggest taking your work in. I only ever encountered one ogre, the rest were very friendly, especially if I told them I was a newbie to 'all of this'!
As regards framing, I get my frames from a professional framer, always in white, choosing the mount to go with the work. It is not as expensive as you may think.
|
|
|
Post by roseleadesigns on Mar 14, 2018 7:17:12 GMT
Thanks everyone. I think I will get one piece of work framed and then see what happens after I approach a gallery/shop. Have any of you approached restaurants or cafes?
|
|
|
Post by roseleadesigns on Mar 14, 2018 8:23:12 GMT
I have decided to take the first step and take a piece to get framed today. I am going to get some business stickers done and order a sample of a cellophane sleeve. I would rather be wet felting though!
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Mar 14, 2018 16:28:24 GMT
Eve, be careful when approaching restaurants and cafes. They will be less "kind" to your work and their main focus is not art but serving food. If you are going to try this avenue, look for places that switch out the art on a regular basis and try it for a month to see how it goes.
As for being a "professional" artist that sells your work, you will find there is a lot of work that has nothing to do with making art. That's the hard part of selling for sure.
|
|
|
Post by roseleadesigns on Mar 14, 2018 19:57:57 GMT
Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it. It really does seem hard and I’m not sure at the moment. Glad to have found this forum though!
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Apr 4, 2018 7:55:05 GMT
Hi Eve.
I was looking back at the previous posts on this and there’s some great advice. A couple of additional thoughts from me: I found joining a local art society was a very good way of getting into the market place. They often do group shows in the area which is a good way of dipping your toe into the water without the risk / expense of hiring a venue by yourself. It’s also helpful in building your contacts and making creative friends and a really good way of finding out about framing and local framers. You may be the only felt maker but lots of painters & photographers have their work framed.
If the leap straight into galleries is too daunting look out for craft fairs where you can hire a table for a day and see how people respond for a relatively low outlay. There are usually loads of these in the run up to Christmas, often in schools, community centres and the like. I find people readily buy small things like cards and bookmarks and you can display smaller framed pictures on desk easles or cookery book stands (which often crop up in charity shops).
My experience of framing: I started out using cheap pre-made box frames from Ikea. I find these are good for items you want to sell relatively cheaply but they’re not good enough when selling at higher prices and I suspect not very appealing to galleries. You also have to make items to fit the frames rather than the other way round. Other UK shops that sell inexpensive box frames include Wilko & The Range. If you’re getting frames made it’s really worth getting lots of quotes as I find prices vary hugely. It’s also much cheaper if you ask the framer just to make the frame & you frame the piece yourself. It takes a bit of time to do the mounting & finishing which is why it’s cheaper if you do it.
I’ve also seen felt work sold stuck to or stretched over a painters canvas which is inexpensive & effective. On the up-side people can touch the felt, which they like, on the down-side some worry about dust and how long it will last.
Hope that’s helpful.
|
|
|
Post by lyn on Apr 4, 2018 10:03:01 GMT
Good advice Lindsay!
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Apr 4, 2018 11:54:53 GMT
|
|
|
Post by felicity on Apr 4, 2018 12:55:21 GMT
It's really VERY good advice, to join the group/society or just create a group to exhibit together. I know a group of rag ruggers who exhibit together, splitting the cost, time of manning the stand and so on, not mention a moral support. If you could find such a group or society, it will help a great deal.
|
|